Mayu no Uta - Vol. 1 Ch. 4

[MangaDex]

 

[UdenEmpati]

I was so low-key terrified that Rin-chan would get caught up in all the horrors coming for Mayu, that I didn't account for Rin-chan becoming monstrous in her desire to keep Mayu to herself.
And I understand her angle; she was the one who knew Mayu's secret, back when she was just a child who was scared and could do nothing but keep a promise to a friend. She proceeded to fall for that person over time, of course...though, I do wonder how much of her "love" is a genuine earnest affection for Mayu and a desire to be with her in a romantic capacity, and how much of it is "I'm supposed to be the one by her side, not some interloping senpai floozy". They're both manifestations of extreme attachment, but one is .......clearly less wholesome than the other.

And with that final panel.................well.



That's absolutely a supremely heavy secret that she carried all these years, though. Even if she didn't understand the full extent of what Mayu was being subjected to when she first came upon the abuse back in primary school, she clearly sussed out more and more as time went on, being the only one who "dared" to get close to the girl. I do not begrudge her feeling like she's carried this weight and responsibility for Mayu's well-being all this time, whatsoever.
Not sure that means she's deserving of Mayu's affection, either, of course. I don't think she's acting entitled, merely spirited in how important a relationship between them is to her. That still can easily tip over into obsession and more dangerous mindsets and behavioral patterns, though...and I do not like her odds, as a mere high school girl against a literal edritch horror (or any of the other, neutral-evil-coded entities currently trailing Mayu all over the place).

I hope Rin-chan can be saved, both from Senpai and from herself. I don't think Mayu should be responsible for doing that, but this yandere-coded ending to the chapter is definitely an intriguing direction for the character, and the narrative shared between them.



Thanks for keeping on with this series. Loving it immensely.

 

[Tcof]

In another manga, the childhood friend girl make for a not bad pairing ,​

but sorry for her, here she have no room here compete with mom-daughters yuri ​

 

[Colonel-Picquart]

Hmmmmmm

Rin seems a lot less toxic in her feelings than I feared she might be after last chapter.
Mayu for one seems to at some level understand Rin's feelings what with the kiss back after she confessed.
But the problem is that Mayu wants to keep Rin at a distance for protection against the supernatural entities, but she doesn't explain that to Rin at all.
So all she sees is Mayu being taken away from her by some senpai she barely knows who gives off rancid vibes with the level of control she exercises over Mayu, especially since Rin doesn't know about the mother roleplay.
Frankly while you could interpret that last panel as yandere-like jealousy, it could also be concern about Mayu entering a coercive relationship again and Rin being unable to help again.

 

[UdenEmpati]

Hmmmmmm

Rin seems a lot less toxic in her feelings than I feared she might be after last chapter.
Mayu for one seems to at some level understand Rin's feelings what with the kiss back after she confessed.
But the problem is that Mayu wants to keep Rin at a distance for protection against the supernatural entities, but she doesn't explain that to Rin at all.
So all she sees is Mayu being taken away from her by some senpai she barely knows who gives off rancid vibes with the level of control she exercises over Mayu, especially since Rin doesn't know about the mother roleplay.
Frankly while you could interpret that last panel as yandere-like jealousy, it could also be concern about Mayu entering a coercive relationship again and Rin being unable to help again.

Mayu kissing Rin is Mayu mirroring Komachi kissing her in chapter 3. Mayu was spiraling during their lunch on the steps up to the rooftop, and Komachi leaned forward, kissed her, and said the lines that Mayu borrows here with Rin. It worked out in getting Mayu to calm down from her panic; so when she saw Rin doing the same thing, she copied the move.
I think there's an argument that Mayu's not completely dense when it comes to Rin's feelings or their significance, but I would also argue that Mayu's not in a place where the type of relationship that Rin wants, could be achieved. Rin's not wrong for seeking one out, but I'm not at all surprised that Mayu has pulled back, and not solely because of the supernatural horrors that are after her, and a desire to see Rin protected from that. Mayu isn't in a place where that sort of connection would be healthy, at all....it's why Komachi is "mom", and not "lover", in the manner Rin desires. Mayu doesn't need a girlfriend, she needs a protector, and independent of Rin (or anyone else) not knowing the extent to which Mayu's life is now Eldritch-Coded, the fact remains that Komachi is singularly equipped to actually provide protection.

And Komachi also kinda covered the whole "not telling people" in chapter 3; not only did she say Mayu should lie to the police investigating the house fire, but she herself hasn't told Mayu everything going on, because she questions whether Mayu is ready to know the full extent, or if it would simply break her. Mayu protecting Rin is again a sort of mirroring of that; it's less overtly maternal and more "I'm looking out for someone special", but I do like the parallels drawn, even if some of the characters aren't aware of it.

I could be jumping the gun on thinking Rin's going to go to a dark place, and she could very well simply be embodying the "concerned love one" who also fills the "no-powers ally" slot. But the way she describes wanting to have Mayu to herself, and the way she was so proud of being the only one who would dare approach her when they were kids and the rest of their class had written Mayu off, does lend toward a route that sees Rin begin to spiral, now that she's suddenly seeing "her spot" being usurped.
We're definitely meant to sympathize with her at minimum, sure--as Komachi remains an enigmatic figure who might not actually have Mayu's best interests at heart. But I will not be surprised if Rin gets some sort of Turn at some point, and while I doubt she'll become an actual villain to Mayu (and I definitely hope she doesn't die), I could easily see her becoming Komachi's adversary, in particular, and grow more aggressive in attempting to "save Mayu" as she sees it.

 

[YoruKun]

The more this goes, the more we get to see how controlling senpai/mom is... First she meet mc right when she's at her lowest. Then she makes her feel attached by offering a bunch of thing with nothing in return other than being her "mom" and forces her to see her as such. And now with the police showing, she guilt trick mc into staying with her and not going toward others because "if you go, you will be a hindrance but me ? I'm ok with you that way so stay with me".
Plus how did she know where rin lives? Either a phone tracker or she learnt where all of mayu's friend live... Idk which is worse but the web to keep mayu in check keeps growing and growing.

Wonder if at one point mayu will be able to escape or if she'll stay stuck to her newly found mom

Also yeah rin seems a bit controlling but way less than senpai. And it could just be a one time thing/crashout because she's rly worried for mayu due to the recent incident and how fast mayu stuck to this new senpai (which kinda fair. Like living with someone you have known for less than a week is not a good idea in general).

Anyway personally I like both relationship so looking forward to how this'll evolve ! But I'd prefer seeing mayu overcoming her demons and for that a therapist would be a good idea... But yeah, not like that's ever gonna happen

One last thing : i see some people talking about the hands as something that is a real paranormal phenomenon so did I miss something? To me is just looks like a representation that mayu have of her trauma, not a real thing

 

[onedumninja]

So was mayu's mom cursed first and the curse transfered over or what? How did this curse stick onto mayu? Was her mom even actually a killer or was this evil curse entity the being killing people?

The curse was going to kill her friend had "mom" not stepped in. So she has to stay with mom for sure cuz that would have ended horribly 0_0

 

[UdenEmpati]

The more this goes, the more we get to see how controlling senpai/mom is... First she meet mc right when she's at her lowest. Then she makes her feel attached by offering a bunch of thing with nothing in return other than being her "mom" and forces her to see her as such. And now with the police showing, she guilt trick mc into staying with her and not going toward others because "if you go, you will be a hindrance but me ? I'm ok with you that way so stay with me".
Plus how did she know where rin lives? Either a phone tracker or she learnt where all of mayu's friend live... Idk which is worse but the web to keep mayu in check keeps growing and growing.

Wonder if at one point mayu will be able to escape or if she'll stay stuck to her newly found mom

Also yeah rin seems a bit controlling but way less than senpai. And it could just be a one time thing/crashout because she's rly worried for mayu due to the recent incident and how fast mayu stuck to this new senpai (which kinda fair. Like living with someone you have known for less than a week is not a good idea in general).

Anyway personally I like both relationship so looking forward to how this'll evolve ! But I'd prefer seeing mayu overcoming her demons and for that a therapist would be a good idea... But yeah, not like that's ever gonna happen

One last thing : i see some people talking about the hands as something that is a real paranormal phenomenon so did I miss something? To me is just looks like a representation that mayu have of her trauma, not a real thing

The tags include "Supernatural" and "horror".

Go back and re-read the first chapter. Mayu was literally butchered by those "Hands", and Komachi put her back together, and is another eldritch being who is actively protecting Mayu from the horrors that massacred her family and burnt that house to the ground that left her homeless.

Yes, Komachi's got ulterior motives that haven't been explained--she says as much in chapter 3 that she's withholding things from Mayu, under the pretense that Mayu's not currently equipped to handle the whole of the truth about what's happening to/around her. But Rin's just a normal human girl who would be very in over her head in all of this. She could maybe find ways to deal with abusive adults in Mayu's life, but the present situation extends far beyond that.

 

[UdenEmpati]

So was mayu's mom cursed first and the curse transfered over or what? How did this curse stick onto mayu? Was her mom even actually a killer or was this evil curse entity the being killing people?

The curse was going to kill her friend had "mom" not stepped in. So she has to stay with mom for sure cuz that would have ended horribly 0_0

which "mom" are you talking about?

All we know of Mayu's mother is that she was apparently a criminal, who was (according to Mayu's cousin) "hanged" (so likely executed by the state, though I'd argue he's an unreliable narrator at this time). Mayu was taken in by police, and then sent to stay with her uncle and his family as a result (her mother's brother), and his wife got spooked by Mayu because of the associated social stigma and she leaves her husband and kids behind.

And Mayu's cousins then start beating the shit out of Mayu alongside their dad, because they blame Mayu (via her mom) for scaring their own mother away.Komachi is her senpai from school, who is strongly alluded to as being some sort of spider-like eldritch entity, and is the one who reached out to Mayu, and gave her a glimmer of hope outside the personal hell that has been her life since she was in primary school.

It's not been explained, but the Hands came after Mayu, and butchered her extended family and also nearly killed Mayu at the same time. Komachi showed up, being very familiar with whatever entity was coming for Mayu, and in the process of chasing it(them?) off, also set fire to the household (she mentions that if the Hands don't leave, she'll use them as kindling). My guess is she was burning the house down to obfuscate how the rest of Mayu's extended family died, but it's not been explicitly stated as of yet.
Mayu was also badly burned in the fire, but not-quite-dead; and then she put Mayu back together, and after hearing Mayu's almost-dying wish to have a mother once more, proposes that she take the role.

But we've not actually gotten anything from the series that describes a curse, that I can find, or anything regarding Mayu's mother beyond her having done something very bad, that saw Mayu being taken in by police before being handed off to her uncle. Her mother is ostensibly dead as well, going by the first chapter's imagery, and Mayu's own monologue about being "left behind" as she's consumed in the house fire. And the true nature of the Hands, and of Komachi herself, are being withheld as they represent a huge part of the mystery surrounding Mayu. But they seem more like actual entities wtih will and intent, than something like a curse, and Komachi is....well, Komachi.

Never mind, I see how page 20 of chapter 3 could be describing Mayu being cursed. That said, Komachi isn't telling Mayu or the reader what started this or where it's come from, so.

 

[YoruKun]

The tags include "Supernatural" and "horror".

Go back and re-read the first chapter. Mayu was literally butchered by those "Hands", and Komachi put her back together, and is another eldritch being who is actively protecting Mayu from the horrors that massacred her family and burnt that house to the ground that left her homeless.

Oh... I didn't notice the tags. I thought the whole scene of everyone being cut and all was just a traumatic representation of How her family tore her apart as well as died in a fire after she ran from home and how senpai saved her and repaired her by giving her a new place to call home.
But I guess it makes sense with the police report and all.

 

[UdenEmpati]

Oh... I didn't notice the tags. I thought the whole scene of everyone being cut and all was just a traumatic representation of How her family tore her apart as well as died in a fire after she ran from home and how senpai saved her and repaired her by giving her a new place to call home as well as showing how everything from her past life got destroyed.
But I guess it makes sense with the police report and all.

I admit it could all be obfuscating a gigantic metaphor, but I also think the series as a whole loses its appeal if we're given nothing to counter what appears to be actual supernatural elements in the story, and the author thus far would be doing a poor job of selling it that way if it were intended.

 

[alfirizkyr]

Freud must be extremely pleased in whatever hell he's in right now. Thanks for the chapter!

 

[YoruKun]

I admit it could all be obfuscating a gigantic metaphor, but I also think the series as a whole loses its appeal if we're given nothing to counter what appears to be actual supernatural elements in the story, and the author thus far would be doing a poor job of selling it that way if it were intended.

Yeah no you're most likely right. It's just, I didn't expect it to be surnatural at first since I didn't check the tags. So I tried to make sense of what happened with rational thinking and a metaphor was the only thing that came to my mind even though it still looked a bit confusing that way.

The surnatural settings makes way more sense so I'd be surprised if my first understanding was right.
So thanks for pointing it out otherwise I'd have become even more confused later on

 

[Jybu]

I for one get the feeling this will be a classic (is this a classic??) clash of yanderes situation... i just hope Komachi goes easy on Rin since im pretty sure komachi can oneshot the poor kid 😭

And my heart does ache for Rin cuz... dang... unrequited love hurts. But also I forgot Mayu's straight up cursed so you gotta cut your losses sometimes lololol

 

[pink_rabbit]

So was mayu's mom cursed first and the curse transfered over or what? How did this curse stick onto mayu? Was her mom even actually a killer or was this evil curse entity the being killing people?

The curse was going to kill her friend had "mom" not stepped in. So she has to stay with mom for sure cuz that would have ended horribly 0_0

my theory is that mayu's biological mother was part of a cult or did a evil magical ritual on taking someone's life.

 

[Yuri_Enjoyer_Deluxe]

Shiiiiet... how'd that one saying go? 'The path to hell is paved with good intentions'?

The slave method got patched years ago, you cant own her like she's the Chicago Bears and Aaron Rodgers...

Figure it out and soon, or you might end up on an island of your own making.

 

[Baffled]

Again with the "Fucking over childhood/best friends just because the author can" trope
I hate the Japanese.

 

[Turbotune]

my theory is that mayu's biological mother was part of a cult or did a evil magical ritual on taking someone's life.

I think you might be onto something here. We knew that Mayu’s mother was a criminal sentenced to death, and with her gone, the last of her direct family connections went with it.
So I suspect it may be similar to one of those situations similar to the manga “A Monster Wants to Eat Me”, in which the protagonist was connected with a supernatural entity beyond what their memory or even their lives could recall, and then their lives were interrupted with said entity. After all, it’s always some kind of spiritual bond or something bound by blood when it comes to these mythical beasts.

Or it could be some kind of actual “Coraline and the Secret Door” stuff. But perhaps that would get even darker than it is now. I don’t really believe Komachi would actually actively sabotage Rin’s efforts or even harm her though, because at this moment, she doesn’t see her as a threat at all. In the past 4 chapters, she already established her position as the guardian of Mayu and have proved that she can pretty much provide Mayu with anything a mother with a guarantee can give. Rin is … just a normal friend for now, and especially since Mayu was put in a host family with an established parent and child before, and because she was an outsider and a menace because of her mother, she doesn’t believe a “host family” can treat her as a child of their own.

So, she has to rely on her senpai, because she doesn’t have a “family”, which means she is not really “intruding” a family in this premise, and thus when senpai provided her with food and clothes and a good time (right after her house was burnt down with her original host family inside by monsters, no less), she fell in and trusted her like a drowning man. It’s only natural.

(And as someone who have seen the later chapters in my native language, a lot of questions folks have for now - like Senpai and Rin’s businesses - are not really answered, but we got more ground work and development for that fire and death of the house, and it really got darker.)

 

[Resound]

i know that tags says supernatural..... but is it though? if it is it better not back peddal later and syas "its just your trauma imagination"


btw they could do a threesome, just saying

threesome is always an option